Faith & Generosity

Faith and Generosity Episode 67

In our world, we have an abundance and sometimes we become complacent, in today’s episode we will discuss our attitude toward all things including the meaning of true generosity that comes from the heart.

In our world of overflow, there are times when an abundance makes us complacent. Many of us know where our next meal will come from. We don’t have to worry that there will not be enough food, praise God. Some years back there was an economic setback that made us evaluate our purchasing and I had to eliminate all the extras like bottled water, paper plates, and we used paper towels very sparingly. The clothes went out on a line and we only used the dryer in emergencies or rainy days. These hard times caused us to think and be frugal and 4 out of my 5 children are very frugal because of it.

In Scripture, we read about the widow and her son who had no money. 1 Kings 17:12

Can you imagine? Someone asks you to share your food and you have to say “When we have eaten it, we shall die” – yet she shares the last of her food with the prophet and God blesses her generosity. Can you imagine being in her situation? What would you do?

There are many who need our help and I am blessed to be in a church that does a good job of collecting money for what they call the St. Vincent DePaul society that gives to the poor. One Sunday at Mass the VP came and asked not for money but for volunteers! I am praying to join them at some point to help.

Sometimes you can’t give money but you can give your time.

We read of a similar situation but this time in the Widow’s mite – in Mark 12:44 we read — They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” The widow gives her whole livelihood at the temple of the Lord. She gives not just the extra that she had, but everything she had. In this way, it is an example to us to give our first fruits or our best to the Lord. Again, if not in money then in time.

The ultimate of giving and generosity is Jesus. He is faithful to the Father – on the cross He says, Father, Your will not mine. He gives his life to save humankind – but just not everyone else – US – he died to save us. You and me. In Hebrews 9:26 we read, “therwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

— “Once for all he has taken away sin by His sacrifice.

We must be a beacon a light for others we must show our faith and generosity not because we believe or are kind but because we allow the light of the Lord to shine through us and how can he? If we are not spending time with him we will have a harder time.

Remember – to spend time with God daily – every day. Spend time talking to Him, writing in your journal make it the first thing you do not the last when you are exhausted and can’t give him your best.

Dear Lord Jesus, I praise you and I thank you – I appreciate all you have done for me, all the ways you have shown me that you care all the ways you have provided for me and my family. Dear Lord, I ask you to help us to give out of our abundance whether it is our gifts or talents. I love you Lord and I ask that you bless each one of us – and that you hear the prayers that are the most pressing on our hearts …………………………….. Lord, I know that you hear our prayers and I ask that you answer them, and I pray this in Jesus Name. Amen.